Remembering Dr. Robert D. Myrick

Remembering Dr. Robert D. Myrick
A Mentor, Colleague, and Friend

Russ Sabella, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert D. Myrick passed away peacefully in late November 2025 at the age of ninety, surrounded by the family who cherished him so deeply.

Today, I want to share a few words about someone truly special in my life, my dear friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Bob Myrick. I’ll keep this short for now, knowing there are volumes of stories to be told about this extraordinary leader and visionary. Bob was a prolific contributor to our school counseling profession, deeply devoted to his family, and someone whose kindness and bright spirit touched everyone who knew him.

I met Bob in 1987 when I began the school counseling graduate program at the University of Florida. From the very start, his warmth, kindness, patience, and genuine care for students stood out. He was an exceptional teacher who was deeply invested not only in preparing strong school counselors, but also in supporting our growth as human beings. What set Bob apart was not just what he knew, but how he shared it. He was generous with his time, genuinely curious about others’ ideas, and unfailingly respectful. Whether you were a graduate student, a new school counselor, or a seasoned professional, Bob listened. He encouraged. He made you feel that your work mattered and that YOU mattered.

In 1990, Bob became my doctoral chair, a trusted mentor, and a steady source of encouragement during a very full season of my life as I worked as a middle school counselor, completed my doctorate, and learned how to be a new parent. He was always an outstanding listener, attentive, supportive, and fully present. Over the years, we became collaborators and friends, authoring articles and books together, helping to launch the Florida Peer Helper Association, and sharing a deep passion for empowering kids through approaches that were both effective and efficient. We also geeked out over emerging technology in the early days of email, the World Wide Web, and beyond. For 38 years, Bob was a steady, positive, and indelible influence in my life, shaping who I am both personally and professionally in ways I continue to appreciate every day.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of an exceptionally large and special group of school counselors, counselor educators, and leaders who got to work with Bob and benefited from his mentorship and friendship. He was a foundational figure in the development of modern school counseling, there from the beginning and helping to shape the profession as we know it today. His impact continues to ripple outward through generations of school counselors and counselor educators, improving the lives of countless students, families, and communities. I will always be grateful for Bob’s influence, his humanity, and his friendship.

For those who may not know the full scope of Bob’s professional impact, here’s a sample:

• Served on the faculty at the University of Florida for 36 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus, while mentoring generations of school counselors and counselor educators
• Authored or co-authored more than 150 books, monographs, chapters, and journal articles focused on practical, effective school counseling
• A foundational leader in developmental school counseling and an early architect of comprehensive K–12 school counseling programs
• Author of Developmental Guidance and Counseling: A Practical Approach, one of the field’s most influential and enduring texts
• Editor of Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, helping shape the profession’s early scholarship and practice
• A national and international advocate for access to school counseling services for all students, not just those in crisis
• A leading voice in the development and responsible implementation of peer helper programs
• An early champion of brief counseling, consultation, accountability, and strategic use of school counselors’ time
• Keynote speaker, consultant, and trainer across nearly every U.S. state and internationally
• Former President of the Florida Counselor Association and the Florida Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
• Recipient of ASCA’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, with the Florida School Counselor Association later naming its Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor